When I returned from my trip traveling Southeast Asia, MY PLAN was to transit through Manila and arrive 1 hour later in my hometown of Iloilo City.

I was a bit concerned because a typhoon was supposed to be passing through Manila that day. We arrived with a fair amount of rain falling and then proceeded to sit on the runaway. 

The pilot came on the P.A system...

"Ladies and Gentlemen, due to the inclement weather the government of the Philippines has declared a holiday today. They have allowed workers to go home due to the typhoon. We are working with a skeleton crew so we thank you for your patience."

I almost burst out laughing. Why you ask?

We have an average of 20 typhoons a year pass through the country. The government is not in the habit of giving out holidays for poor weather. They will cancel schools, yes, but not give a paid holiday.

I knew something was up, and after waiting on the tarmac for two hours for a bus and a set of steps to be pushed out to us, here's the scene that greeted me...

A wild cat strike by the the ground crew, The life of a missionary is never dull! ha!ha!

The ground crew were the first to go on strike, followed by the desk agents. There were about 200 passengers milling around the luggage claim room and sitting on the conveyor belts. The picture with the riot police was taken (I wish by me) but probably one of my fellow 600-800 passengers stranded at the Philippine Air Lines (PAL) terminal building. Everything had come to a standstill.

There are three terminal buildings that make up the Manila airport.

Although they are situated on the same property, they are not interconnected by airport train or walkways. 

There are free shuttle buses that  drive the congested city streets of Manila between each terminal   if you need to make a connection.

It can be quite "fun" at times especially during rush hour, as you need to allow yourself at least 4 hours to make a connection.

MY PLAN was to fly Philippine Air Lines as it's all in one building. 

GOD'S PLAN was even better as I met a Singaporean who was in the same predicament as me.  He was just making a transfer to go Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, Canada.  I found out he was a Christian :)

I love these "divine appointments" especially when your banding together with family.  There are no strangers in the Kingdom of God!  We were brothers looking out for each other!  

We prayed about 100 feet from the riot police asking for His favour, grace and protection.  We walked back and forth between two entrances ( the building was closed but there were about 200 passengers at airline office door trying to rebook their tickets ) and then we found favor with a security guard.

My new friend "Ben" got inside and the guard told him to go to counter 15.  I went back out and up to another security guard who I had spoken with earlier, and he pointed towards two young Filipino ladies.  "They are going to Iloilo"  he told me.  I approached them and they were speaking with an airline manager. 

I discovered that one of the girls father is a Baptist pastor in Iloilo and we have mutual friends.  

We waited about 20 minutes and then the airline manager then proceeded to walk us to a bus!  

Remember we are in the midst of 600+ disgruntled passengers, 80+ riot police w/ dogs, and ground crew singing union songs to "Battle Hymn of the Republic".

I liked GOD'S PLAN !!  We arrived at  the other terminal and were given a flight on a partner airline.

We arrived home at 10 PM only 9 hours after arriving in Manila, which was amazing considering the circumstances. 

An Airbus A-320 never looked so good!